Circular multiple machine-table.



` R. s. ABRANTS.

CIRCULAR MULTIPLE MACHINE TABLE. APPLICATION FILED DEC-QI |916.

1243577. Patented om. mi um @W5-e f/ l III IIIIIIIII L NT FICE.

. ROBERT S. ARRANTS, OI KINGSPORT, TENNESSEE.

CIRCULAR MULTIPLE MACHINE-TABLE.

Specification o'f Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

Application filed December 9, 1916. Serial No. 135,972.

To all uLom t may concern.'

Bc it known that l, Ronnn'r 5. nnAx'rs, a citizen of the United States,and a residentot' Kingsport, in the county of Sullivan and StateofTennessee, have invented a new and Improved Circular MultipleMachi11e-'1`able, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to machine shop apparatus and has particularreference to work-holding means in the form of a movable table orcircular .series ot' associated individual work-supporting tablesmovable step by step` successively before any suitable number ofmachines operated also in series along the series of tables.

Among the objects of the invention is to simplify and expedite theoperation of applying the work to the several table units, as well asthe removal of the same from such units, the table units, however,continuing always in the same path or line ot' action.

' With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists inthe arrange ment and combination of parts hereinafter described andclaimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact detailsof construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose ofillustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is ad totheaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan Viewof the improved multiple table indicating diagrammatically its relationto the stationary machine supports, both the table and the machine supports being arranged in parallel circular serles;

F ig. 2 is a vertical transverse section substantially on the line 2,2of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detail View of thestopping device. l

Referring now more articularly to the drawings, I show a substantiallycircular supporting structure indicated as a whole at 10, the samecomprising a circular series of machine supports or stands 11,- shown in.this instance as eight in number, each stand being ada ted to hold apower-operated machine, suc as is indicated at 12. These man chines 12may be of any desired nature and may be individually operated by anysuitable power connections which have no immediate bearing upon thisinvention and hence are not illustrated.

The multiple table tor supporting a series of individual parts ofmachinery to he niachined or treated, is shown as being of annular orhollow circular form indicated as a whole at 13 and comprising' acontinuous or endless circular series ot table units 1l arranged end toend circumfcrentially and connected each to each in any suitable manner.

These table units are provided with downwardly projecting:` annular ribsl5 which cooperate with grooves 16 formed in the stationary support,whereby the annular tabl` is prevented from lateral or radialdisplacement. Each table unit is provided with dovetailed channels 1T ofany suitable or conventional construction for the attachment of parts ofmachinery to bev machined or operated upon, one of such parts being'indicated at 1S. By reference to Fig'. l, it will be noted that Ipreferably construct this apparatus making provision tor eight niachincsand ten table units, a table unit boing' arranged directly adjacent toeach machine and two table units to spare. By way of description of theoperation. the first space or station is indicated at A, the second atB, which is opposite the first machine. stand 11, the next then is C,and so onaronnd to the. last station which is marked L.

Station A will be understood as beingl the station at which an enginecylinder. for exalnple.,to be machined by various ina chinos orprocesses will be clamped o thitable unit 11 then directly opposite saidstation A. The multiple table as a whole will then be rotated throughone step or from one station to another. bringing the job opposite themachine located at the first machine stand. While this job is beingtreated at the first machine, a second job or casting Will be secured tothe table unit, which at this time will be opposite the first station A.Thus the machine parts are ap-4 plied in succession to all of theseveral table units 14 and brought in succession under or before thevarious machines located at the stands 11. under the control of anynumber of skilled machinists who may be statoned Within the table circleor elsewhere. The first casting thus applied to the rotatingtable afterhaving passed step by step beneathor alongany desired number ofmachines, possibly eight as indicated, for the performance of as manydiiierent species of Work thereon, will eventually come to the laststation L Where a helper will detach it and rem-ove it from a tableunit. The work of applying a new job at the station A will thus, it willbe understood, be performed simultaneously with the operation ofremovingr the linishcd job at the station L and also the treatment ot'the several intermediate jobs at the various stations between the first,and the last. The value of this device in large machine shops orfactories where internal combustion engines or the like are manufacturedin large quantities according to standard specifications, will be dulyappreciated.

Any suitable means may be provided to rotztte the annular table step bystep from one station to another according;r to the time required forthe various functions to be performed at the Several stations. for thispurpose a power shaft 19, upon the inner end of which is loosely mounteda tooth gear 20 meshing with a pinion 21 Secured to a short shaftcarrying at its other end a beveled pinion 22 ineshingr with a largecircular rack 23 formed on the lower surface of the annular table orseries of table units concentric with the apparatus as a Whole. The gear20 is adapted to be con nected periodically with the power shaft 19through a friction clutch 24 manipulated by a lever 25 connected to arock shaft. 2G adjacent to the floor of the shop. A hand leverQ?projects upwardly Afor manipulation of any one of the operators forsetting the clutch.

Each table unit carries a stop lug 2S, with which a movable stop device29 is adapted to coperate for the purpose of stopping the table unitn,having the then active stop lug opposite the firsty machine stand. Thestop device 29 is indicated as being' under the,v

control of an operators foot; at the lever 30.

l indicate ythe friction clutch connection between the power shat't andthe machine table insures that no damage will result it the stai-tintr Aoperator fails to release the connection at the exact instant that thestop mechanism becomes effective.

l claim:

In an 'apparatus ot the character set forth, the combination of anannular series of machine stands. the first and lastl members of theseries being spaced farther from each other than any other adjacent twooi the stands, providing free space for operators, an annular series oftable units movable step by step periodically alone' said stands. onetable unit tor each stand` and additional table units being opposite thewide space aforesaid l'or the application oi" work to or removal ot workVfrom such units. there being space provided within the series ot tableunits for workmen opposite the respective machine stands, and powerdevices to operate thtl series ot' table units step by step t'rom onestation to another alongr said machine stands.

ROBERT S. ARR ANTS.

lVitnesses (l. (l. CALnncoN, C. C. lVm'rn.

